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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An old brick house that has served as the warden's home at the North Dakota state penitentiary is slated to be torn down this fall, but local history buffs are hoping it can be moved to a new location.
Officials with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation tell the Bismarck Tribune that the 115-year-old building has outlived its usefulness. The warden is no longer required by law to live there, and the building has been used as office space since former warden Tim Schuetzle retired in 2010.
By the end of summer, the division using the old bedrooms and living rooms as offices will move to a new nearby administration building.
A $64 million construction and renovation project at the prison includes tearing down the house, but locals working to preserve the area's history are hoping the house can be moved to a different location.
"I think it has to be one of the most beautiful historic homes in the state," said Elizabeth Lucas, a resident involved in the preservation of the former North Dakota governor's mansion in west Bismarck.
The inside of the house in east Bismarck features a dumbwaiter, adjoining staircases with elaborate woodwork, splashes of stained glass above doors and ornate light fixtures.
But on the outside, bricks are worn in places and some of the decorative features of the architecture have fallen off during years of the harsh North Dakota climate.
The brick foundation is crumbling, and engineers evaluating the house had to drill 6 to 8 inches into the wall to find hard spots, said Dick Frohlich, director of plant services for the prison.
If the house were to be moved, its main floor would be cut above the 2,200-square-foot basement.
"Clearly, you wouldn't want the foundation that's here now, because it's just red sand," Frohlich said.
Frohlich said he researched the possibility of moving the house about five years ago, and it would have cost at least $250,000. Demolition cost likely will be $20,000 to $25,000, meaning it would be at least 10 times more expensive to move it than tear it down.
The most likely path to saving the house would be for a private buyer to agree to pay for the moving and restoration costs, either for private use or for donation.
"We'd love a private buyer to grab it up," said Kate Herzog, of the Bismarck Downtowners Association.
If no one takes on moving the building, the department will remove all of the items of historic value, surplus usable furniture, and possibly sell anything the state cannot use.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An old brick house that has served as the warden's home at the North Dakota state penitentiary is slated to be torn down this fall, but local history buffs are hoping it can be moved to a new location.
Officials with the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation tell the Bismarck Tribune that the 115-year-old building has outlived its usefulness. The warden is no longer required by law to live there, and the building has been used as office space since former warden Tim Schuetzle retired in 2010.
By the end of summer, the division using the old bedrooms and living rooms as offices will move to a new nearby administration building.
A $64 million construction and renovation project at the prison includes tearing down the house, but locals working to preserve the area's history are hoping the house can be moved to a different location.
"I think it has to be one of the most beautiful historic homes in the state," said Elizabeth Lucas, a resident involved in the preservation of the former North Dakota governor's mansion in west Bismarck.
The inside of the house in east Bismarck features a dumbwaiter, adjoining staircases with elaborate woodwork, splashes of stained glass above doors and ornate light fixtures.
But on the outside, bricks are worn in places and some of the decorative features of the architecture have fallen off during years of the harsh North Dakota climate.
The brick foundation is crumbling, and engineers evaluating the house had to drill 6 to 8 inches into the wall to find hard spots, said Dick Frohlich, director of plant services for the prison.
If the house were to be moved, its main floor would be cut above the 2,200-square-foot basement.
"Clearly, you wouldn't want the foundation that's here now, because it's just red sand," Frohlich said.
Frohlich said he researched the possibility of moving the house about five years ago, and it would have cost at least $250,000. Demolition cost likely will be $20,000 to $25,000, meaning it would be at least 10 times more expensive to move it than tear it down.
The most likely path to saving the house would be for a private buyer to agree to pay for the moving and restoration costs, either for private use or for donation.
"We'd love a private buyer to grab it up," said Kate Herzog, of the Bismarck Downtowners Association.
If no one takes on moving the building, the department will remove all of the items of historic value, surplus usable furniture, and possibly sell anything the state cannot use.
